U.S. patent number 11,011,875 [Application Number 16/708,532] was granted by the patent office on 2021-05-18 for electrical cable braid positioning clip.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TE Connectivity Services GmbH. The grantee listed for this patent is TE Connectivity Services GmbH. Invention is credited to Neil Franklin Schroll, Nathan William Swanger.
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United States Patent |
11,011,875 |
Schroll , et al. |
May 18, 2021 |
Electrical cable braid positioning clip
Abstract
A cable assembly and method for terminating an end of a cable.
The cable assembly includes a ferrule secured to a cable jacket at
the end of the cable. The cable also has a braided shield which
extends from the end of the cable to the portion of the inner
connector positioned in the ferrule. A transition zone is provided
between the end of the cable and an end of a portion of an inner
connector positioned in the ferrule. A braid positioning clip
engages the braided shield in the transition zone to maintain a
relationship of the braided shield to the signal conductors to
minimize the degradation of the electrical performance of the
cable.
Inventors: |
Schroll; Neil Franklin (Mount
Joy, PA), Swanger; Nathan William (Dillsburg, PA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TE Connectivity Services GmbH |
Schaffhausen |
N/A |
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
TE Connectivity Services GmbH
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
73854860 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/708,532 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/65915 (20200801); H01R 9/0518 (20130101); H02G
15/02 (20130101); H01R 13/6592 (20130101); H01R
43/28 (20130101); H01R 13/5804 (20130101); H01R
4/183 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/6592 (20110101); H02G 15/02 (20060101); H01R
43/28 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/585 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Paumen; Gary F
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A cable assembly for terminating an end of a cable, the cable
assembly comprising: a ferrule secured to a cable jacket at the end
of the cable; a shell, a portion of the shell positioned in the
ferrule; an inner housing positioned in the shell, the inner
housing cooperating with individual signal conductors which extend
from the end of the cable; the cable having the individual signal
conductors extending from the end of the cable to the inner housing
and a braided shield extending from the end of the cable to the
portion of the shell positioned in the ferrule; a transition zone
provided between the end of the cable and an end of the portion of
the shell positioned in the ferrule; a braid positioning clip
engaging the braided shield in the transition zone to maintain a
relationship of the braided shield to the signal conductors to
minimize the degradation of the electrical performance of the
cable.
2. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the braid
positioning clip has an arcuate section and a straight section.
3. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the braid
positioning clip has two arcuate sections and a straight section
which extends between the arcuate sections.
4. The cable assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the arcuate
sections have free ends which are positioned in line, but spaced
from each other.
5. The cable assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein a slot is
provided between the free ends.
6. The cable assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the arcuate
sections have free ends which are positioned in different
planes.
7. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the braid
positioning clip is resiliently deformable.
8. The cable assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the braid
positioning clip has a C-shaped configuration.
9. The cable assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the braid
positioning clip is made from metal.
10. The cable assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the braid
positioning clip is made from plastic.
11. The cable assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein an inner
surface of the braid positioning clip is dimensioned to contain or
compress the braided shield against the signal conductors, allowing
the braid positioning clip to maintain the braided shield in close
proximity to the inner signal conductors.
12. A method of terminating a cable to a cable assembly, the method
comprising; removing a cable jacket at the end of the cable to
expose signal conductors and a braided shield; positioning the
signal conductors into a conductive shell; positioning the braided
shield in electrical engagement with the conductive shell;
positioning a braid positioning clip in a transition zone between
the end of the cable and the conductive shell; maintaining a
relationship of the braided shield to the signal conductors in the
transition zone to minimize the degradation of the electrical
performance of the cable.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the braid
positioning clip has an arcuate section and a straight section.
14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the braid
positioning clip has two arcuate sections and a straight section
which extends between the arcuate sections.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the arcuate sections
have free ends which are positioned in line, but spaced from each
other.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a slot is provided
between the free ends.
17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the arcuate sections
have free ends which are positioned in different planes.
18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the braid
positioning clip is resiliently deformable.
19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the braid
positioning clip has a C-shaped configuration.
20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the braid
positioning clip is made from metal.
21. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the braid
positioning clip is made from plastic.
22. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein an inner surface of
the braid positioning clip is dimensioned to contain or compress
the braided shield against the signal conductors, allowing the
braid positioning clip to maintain the braided shield in close
proximity to the inner signal conductors.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an electrical cable braid
positioning clip. In particular, the invention is directed to a
clip which cooperates with the braid of an electrical cable to
retain the braid relationship to the signal conductor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the process of terminating a high speed cable, such as an RF
(Radio Frequency) cable, to a connector, there are many electrical
and mechanical considerations. Typical highspeed cable consists of
an outer jacket, braid (for ground reference), foil, dielectric,
and an inner signal conductor. Connecting the braid for ground
reference is always a challenge for both mechanical and electrical
performance. Not only is the mechanical connection difficult, but
trying to also maintain electrical performance through the braid
crimp zone is sometime problematic. The crimping process usually
involves the use of a mechanical component, like a ferrule. When
crimping the ferrule over the braid, foil, and inner connector
there is a transition zone where the connector ends. In this zone
the braid and foil may get "bunched" up causing electrical
performance degradation.
It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a device or clip
which eliminates the "bunching" up of the foil and braid, thereby
maintaining the appropriate relationship of the braid to the signal
conductor to minimize the degradation of the electrical performance
of the cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment is directed to a cable assembly for terminating an
end of a cable. The cable assembly includes a ferrule secured to a
cable jacket at the end of the cable. A shell has an inner
connector, with a portion of the inner connector positioned in the
ferrule. An inner housing is positioned in the inner connector. The
inner housing cooperates with individual signal conductors which
extend from the end of the cable. The cable has the individual
signal conductors extending from the end of the cable to the inner
housing. The cable also has a braided shield which extends from the
end of the cable to the portion of the inner connector positioned
in the ferrule. A transition zone is provided between the end of
the cable and an end of the portion of the inner connector
positioned in the ferrule. A braid positioning clip engages the
braided shield in the transition zone to maintain a relationship of
the braided shield to the signal conductors to minimize the
degradation of the electrical performance of the cable.
An embodiment is directed to a method of terminating a cable to a
cable assembly. The method includes; removing a cable jacket at the
end of the cable to expose signal conductors and a braided shield;
positioning the signal conductors into a conductive shell;
positioning the braided shield in electrical engagement with the
conductive shell; a shell having an inner connector, a portion of
the inner connector positioned in the ferrule; positioning a braid
positioning clip in a transition zone between the end of the cable
and the conductive shell; and maintaining a relationship of the
braided shield to the signal conductors in the transition zone to
minimize the degradation of the electrical performance of the
cable.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following more detailed description of the
preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of an illustrative electrical connector
positioned on an illustrative cable.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1
showing a clip of the present invention in contact with the braid
of the cable in a transition zone.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section view taken along line 3-3 of
FIG. 1 showing a clip of the present invention in contact with the
braid of the cable in the transition zone.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view an illustrative embodiment of the clip
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles
of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with
the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the
entire written description. In the description of embodiments of
the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or
orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and
is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present
invention. Relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal,"
"vertical," "above," "below," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as
well as derivative thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly,"
"upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation
as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion.
These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do
not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a
particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms
such as "attached," "affixed," "connected," "coupled,"
"interconnected," and similar refer to a relationship wherein
structures are secured or attached to one another either directly
or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both
movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly
described otherwise.
Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are
illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly,
the invention expressly should not be limited to such embodiments
illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features
that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the
scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended
hereto.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, an electrical connector assembly 10
is electrically and mechanically connected to a cable 12. The cable
12 can transfer data between and among storage devices, switches,
routers, printed circuit boards (PCBs), analog to digital
converters, connectors, and other devices. In various embodiments,
the cable 12 can support data transfer rates of 100 Mbps and
higher. In some embodiments, the cable 12 can support data transfer
rates of approximately 4.25 Gbps to approximately 25 Gbps. The
cable 12 also can be used with data transfer rates above or below
these exemplary rates. As shown in FIG. 3, the cable 12 has a cable
jacket 14, a braided shield 16, a metalized foil 18 and two center
conductors 20, 22. The conductors 20, 22 are spaced from each other
and extend essentially parallel to each other. The conductors 20,
22 are surrounded by the braided metal shield 16, such as, but not
limited to braided copper shielding. The center conductors 20, 22
may also be surrounded by individual dielectrics 24, 26.
As shown in FIG. 2, an end of the cable 12 has the cable jacket 14
removed to expose the braided shield 16 and the conductors 20, 22.
A crimp ferrule 30 is provided proximate the end of the cable
12.
The electrical connector assembly 10 has a first metallic outer
shell 32 and a second metallic outer shell 34. The first metallic
outer shell 32 has a mating connector receiving portion 36 and a
second metallic outer shell receiving portion 38. The second
metallic outer shell 34 has a first metallic outer shell receiving
portion 40 and a conductor receiving portion 42.
A dielectric housing 50 is positioned in the electrical connector
assembly 10. The housing 50 made of dielectric material. As shown
in FIG. 2, the housing 50 has a mating end 52 and an oppositely
facing conductor receiving end 54. A dielectric rib 56 extends from
the conductor receiving end 54 of the dielectric housing 50 in a
direction away from the mating end 52. The rib 56 extends in a
direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis 58
of the housing 50.
The rib 56 extends from the conductor receiving end 54 into the
conductor receiving portion 42 of the second metallic outer shell
34. The rib 56 and the second metallic outer shell 34 form
conductor receiving passages (not shown).
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a braid positioning clip or comb 60
is provided proximate the end of the cable 12. The braid
positioning clip 60 is positioned in a transition zone 62 between
an end 64 of the cable jacket 14 and an end 66 of the conductor
receiving portion 42 of the second metallic outer shell 34. The
illustrative braid positioning clip or comb 60 has a C-shape with
an inner surface 76. The positioning clip 60 has two curved or
arcuate sections 68 and a straight section 70 which extends between
the arcuate sections 68. Each of the arcuate sections 68 have a
free end 72 which is positioned in line or in the same plane, but
spaced from, the free end 72 of the other arcuate section 68. In an
alternate embodiment, the free ends 72 may be positioned in
different planes such that the free ends 72 are not positioned in
line with each other. A slot or opening 74 is provided between the
free ends 72.
In the illustrative embodiment shown, the braid positioning clip 60
is made from material having resilient properties. The braid
positioning clip 60 may be made from metal, plastic or any other
material having the desired characteristics. The arcuate sections
68 and the straight section 70 may be resiliently deformed as the
braid positioning clip 60 is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 2
and 3. With the braid positioning clip 60 properly positioned, the
arcuate sections 68 and the straight section 70 are allowed to
resiliently return toward their unstressed positions, as will be
more fully described.
While the braid positioning clip 60 is shown as a C-shaped member,
the braid positioning clip 60 may have other configurations without
departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the braid
positioning clip 60 may be made from material which may be
deformed, for example by a crimp, rather than material which has
resilient characteristics.
In use, the cable 12 is prepared, as discussed above, to remove the
cable jacket 14 to expose the braided shield 16 and conductors 20,
22. The crimp ferrule 30 is inserted onto the end of the cable and
initially positioned away from the end of the cable, either before
or after the cable 12 is prepared. With the crimp ferrule 30
properly inserted over the end of the cable 12 and the cable 12
properly prepared, the connector assembly 10 is moved to the
position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this position, the conductors
20, 22 are positioned in the conductor receiving passages between
the rib 56 and the conductor receiving portion 42 of the second
metallic outer shell 34. The conductors 20, 22 in the conductor
receiving passages extend substantially parallel to each other and
in substantially the same plane. As the second metallic outer shell
34 surrounds the conductors 20, 22, the conductors 20, 22 are
protected, preventing damage to the conductors 20, 22, thereby
maintaining the integrity of the conductors 20, 22 and the signal
path provided thereby.
In this position, the braided shield 16 and the metalized foil 18
extend over an outside surface 78 of the conductor receiving
portion 42 of the second metallic outer shell 34. The braid
positioning clip 60 is positioned over the braided shield 16 and
the metalized foil 18 in the transition zone 62 to retain the
braided shield 16 and the metalized foil 18 in close proximity to
the conductors 20, 22.
The braid positioning clip 60 helps to contain and maintain the
braided shield 16 and the metalized foil 18 relationship to the
signal conductor 20, 22, particularly in the transition zone 62.
The inner surface 76 of the braid positioning clip 60 is
dimensioned to contain or compress the braided shield 16 and the
metalized foil 18 against the conductors 20, 22. Consequently, as
the braid positioning clip 60 is inserted over the braided shield
16 and the metalized foil 18 in the transition zone 62, the braided
shield 16 and the metalized foil 18 are maintained in close
proximity to the inner signal conductors 20, 22, thereby
eliminating bunching of the braided shield 16 and the metalized
foil 18 in the transition zone 62. In the illustrative embodiment
shown, the braid positioning clip 60 maintains the relationship
between the braided shield 16 and the metalized foil 18 and the
conductors 20, 22 via a spring action. However, in other
illustrative embodiments, the braid positioning clip 60 retains the
braided shield 16 and the metalized foil 18 against the conductors
20, 22 by other methods or means. For example, the braid
positioning clip 60 may be crimped to properly retain the braided
shield 16 and the metalized foil 18 against the conductors 20, 22,
or even another crimp process. As the braid positioning clip 60
maintains the relationship between the braided shield 16 and the
metalized foil 18 and the inner signal conductors 20, 22,
degradation of the electrical performance of the cable is
minimized, thereby enhancing the electrical performance.
With the braid positioning clip 60 properly positioned, the crimp
ferrule 30 is then moved into the position shown in FIG. 2. A first
portion 80 of the crimp ferrule 30 is crimped to the conductor
receiving portion 42 of the second metallic outer shell 34 of the
connector assembly 10. This causes the braided shield 16 and the
metalized foil 18 to be placed in mechanical and electrical
engagement with the outside surface 78 of the conductor receiving
portion 42 of the second metallic outer shell 34, providing for a
continuous electrical connection between the braided shield 16 and
the metalized foil 18 of the cable and the second metallic outer
shell 24 of the connector assembly 10. A second portion 82 of the
crimp ferrule 30 is crimped to the cable jacket 14 of the cable 12
to provide a mechanical connection therebetween. The crimp ferrule
30 secures the electrical connector assembly 10 to the cable
12.
As previously stated, the method of terminating a cable to a cable
assembly includes; removing a cable jacket at the end of the cable
to expose signal conductors and a braided shield; positioning the
signal conductors into a conductive shell; positioning the braided
shield in electrical engagement with the conductive shell; a shell
having an inner connector, a portion of the inner connector
positioned in the ferrule; positioning a braid positioning clip in
a transition zone between the end of the cable and the conductive
shell; and maintaining a relationship of the braided shield to the
signal conductors in the transition zone to minimize the
degradation of the electrical performance of the cable.
While the invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be
used with many modifications of structure, arrangement,
proportions, sizes, materials and components and otherwise used in
the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to
specific environments and operative requirements without departing
from the principles of the present invention. The presently
disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to
the foregoing description or embodiments.
* * * * *